Style is largely a biproduct of preference. Every one has strengths and weaknesses, but in my experience, regardless of style, the better fighter wins with a good mixture of skill, resolve, and a bit of luck.

It's easy to fabricate a situational example, analyze it, then talk about how and why, but until you can do it in function, it's all hypothetical anyway. Sounds like experience is what's needed here. After all, you can't much have legit confidence without it.

Either it's school holidays somewhere or we urgently need to invent a device that allows people to punch other people in the face over the internet.

I shudder to think how much money you could make, from Phrost alone, with a such a device...

"So, yeah, Zen teachers may well insult you, work you to the bone, hit you with sticks, shout verbal abuse at you, and punch the **** out of you.
And when the ****'s been punched out of you, you might just find that you're far better-off without it." - Vieux Normand

"You entered the lions' den. Don't bitch if you get eaten." - danniboi07

"Needless to say, it's much easier to clear a bunch of drunk kids out of your house when you're yelling GTFO and carrying a samurai sword." - DerAuslander

"Eventually, I realized it doesn't matter what art you train, what matters is the method in which you train. Training in an alive manner, under skilled and qualified instruction, is the single most important aspect of gaining martial skill. All else is window dressing." - JNP : Saying it how it is!

most Mixed Martial Artists tend to get real tense while fighting (other than Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva who are very relaxed and sometimes loose). Another thing I noticed is almost all of them tend to always fight directly at their opponent; in a straight line.

Kinda like, I dunno, Karate...?

That however can be avoided if (with perfect timing and elusive footwork)

Like Boxing...?

you move out of the way by rotating both your shoulders and your hips at the same time. The secret is to avoid the tackle which is a move that often seen as MMA's most signature

Rubbish

but near impossible to defend against.

Rubbish

The secret is to keep moving out of the way in a style of footwork widely used in Kung Fu. Elusive footwork is probably the best way to defend against wrestling moves like tackling.

Like Boxing ?

But if he does manage to drag you to the ground just relax and become loose that way it will be easier to worm your way out of a kimura or choke hold.

You either really suck at grappling or you train with someone who really sucks at grappling

Grappling is one thing but stand-up is even more dangerous since fighters tend to loose themselves while exchanging blows.

Didn't you just say that MMA fighter, are really tense ?

If he knows Muay Thai, Boxing, Kyokushin or all of the above then don't be afraid to use knees and elbows since Okinawan Karate does include techniques very similar to Muay Boran.

Like dancing...?

Well those are my opinions on using Classical Karate against Modern Combat Sports and if you want you could use Tuite just in case you want to tap him out.

It's been said already, but wth... If you could rule all, with just Karate... How come Lyto Machida cross trained....?

"So, yeah, Zen teachers may well insult you, work you to the bone, hit you with sticks, shout verbal abuse at you, and punch the **** out of you.
And when the ****'s been punched out of you, you might just find that you're far better-off without it." - Vieux Normand

"You entered the lions' den. Don't bitch if you get eaten." - danniboi07

"Needless to say, it's much easier to clear a bunch of drunk kids out of your house when you're yelling GTFO and carrying a samurai sword." - DerAuslander

"Eventually, I realized it doesn't matter what art you train, what matters is the method in which you train. Training in an alive manner, under skilled and qualified instruction, is the single most important aspect of gaining martial skill. All else is window dressing." - JNP : Saying it how it is!

Since this thread is probably a bust, here's a more specific karate/mma question that's related but probably also doesn't deserve its own thread:

Have any of you karatekas used shuto strikes in MMA sparring to good effect?

Not for jyu kumite/sport kumite, but shuto techniques are great openers for arm manipulations after you breach your opponent's range and force them to attack. Whether it's MMA or no, if you can make them attack, you can do all sorts of interesting things if you're quick and know your technical points well enough. And that's not even considering how nicely a good shuto rolls off a good block. You've got good options there as far as targeting too. Your timing really has to be on point, though.

Since this thread is probably a bust, here's a more specific karate/mma question that's related but probably also doesn't deserve its own thread:

Have any of you karatekas used shuto strikes in MMA sparring to good effect?

I occasionally use them when blitzing, or when breaking out of a clinch, but most of my sparring partners aren't terribly thrilled with having the nerves in their necks struck with much force, so I only hit lightly with them. I'm in the process of getting my amateur MMA license (the commission was supposed to call me back and hasn't yet), so if I end up using it in an amateur MMA bout, I'll be sure to let you know how it works out. Judging by how it feels just being hit with one at less than half-power, I can only imagine how unpleasant it will feel if it lands full-power.

Since this thread is probably a bust, here's a more specific karate/mma question that's related but probably also doesn't deserve its own thread:

Have any of you karatekas used shuto strikes in MMA sparring to good effect?

I haven't but one time, years ago, in a cage fight some guy was being taken down with a double leg and as he flew back he did a double shuto to the attacker's neck. The attacker was KO'd or near KO'd and was candy. So I did see this once. But it's like karate techniques I like to do attacking the legs of the shooter - it CAN work.

"Preparing mentally, the most important thing is, if you aren't doing it for the love of it, then don't do it." - Benny Urquidez

And that's not even considering how nicely a good shuto rolls off a good block. You've got good options there as far as targeting too. Your timing really has to be on point, though.

Are you talking about karate inward/outward/upward forearm blocks?

Originally Posted by Tetsumusha

I occasionally use them when blitzing, or when breaking out of a clinch, but most of my sparring partners aren't terribly thrilled with having the nerves in their necks struck with much force, so I only hit lightly with them.

What about more sport-friendly targets that would still suck to get chopped in?

Judging by how it feels just being hit with one at less than half-power, I can only imagine how unpleasant it will feel if it lands full-power.

Either outward or inward shuto to the neck, though, is generally going to clash into a MMA fighter's guards though, being square facing with the hands up. There are those entries where you parry and pass to the other hand to open up the backhand shuto, but I'm kinda skeptical about those against a real fighter who will throw their other hand as you try this. So, I'm not really asking if a shuto to the neck will hurt, I'm wondering how likely it is to land on a modern fighter.

Hammerfists are certainly used in MMA, but generally while on the ground, not standing. Shutos certainly share similarities with hammerfists, but you pretty much never see them outside of Sakuraba antics.